Physical Activity Program for Childhood Obesity

(ACTIVE Trial)

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Disqualifiers: Organized physical activity, Child protection, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

1400 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment for childhood obesity?

Research shows that physical activity is a key part of treating childhood obesity, helping to increase energy use and improve overall health. Programs combining exercise with health education and healthy eating, like those at weight-management camps or community settings, have been effective in managing weight in children. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the physical activity program for childhood obesity safe for children?

Research indicates that physical activity programs for children, including those with obesity, are generally safe and can lead to positive health outcomes such as improved body composition and fitness. These programs are designed to meet the specific needs of children and have been shown to be beneficial without significant safety concerns. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does the physical activity program treatment for childhood obesity differ from other treatments?

The physical activity program for childhood obesity is unique because it focuses on increasing energy expenditure through daily activities, sports, and active commuting, while also involving family and friends for support. Unlike other treatments, it emphasizes improving the child's overall health, including their metabolic profile and psychological well-being, rather than just focusing on weight loss. ^{1 2 11 12 13}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Hamilton is a city with a growing newcomer population. Families who are new to Canada do not always have the same resources to access healthy active living (HAL) activities as compared to Canadian-born families. The SCORE! ACTIVE trial will recruit newcomer families with young children in Hamilton and help provide them with access to HAL activities. Through this, the investigators want to see if newcomer children's perspectives of physical activity will change over time. They will also see if increasing newcomer children's access to these resources will promote an increase in HAL behaviours.

Eligibility Criteria

The SCORE! ACTIVE trial is for newcomer families with young children in Hamilton who may not have easy access to healthy active living (HAL) activities. The goal is to see if providing these resources can change the children's views on physical activity and increase their participation in HAL behaviors.

Inclusion Criteria

At least one parent/guardian born outside of Canada and residing in Canada for 10 years or less

Families must be living in one of the designated neighbourhood clusters

I am a newcomer in Canada, living in Hamilton with a child aged 5 to 11.

Exclusion Criteria

Families with involvement with child protection services and/or foster care

My child is in a sports or physical activity program 3+ times a week.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Initial baseline measures are taken in each community before the intervention

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Implementation of physical activity programming, navigator services, and health promotion messaging

18 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical activity self-efficacy and behaviors

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Health promotion
• Navigation
• Physical activity program

Trial Overview This study tests a program that includes physical activity, health promotion, and navigation support designed for newcomer families. It aims to assess whether this intervention can positively influence children's attitudes towards physical activity and encourage more active lifestyles.

Participant Groups

Group I: SCORE! ACTIVE Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

This is the only arm of the study. The interventions included in this arm are physical activity programming (SCORE! CLUB), navigator services (SCORE! navigator), and health promotion messaging. All clusters will receive this intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Lead Sponsor

Trials

380

Recruited

345,000+

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

Collaborator

Trials

51

Recruited

101,000+

Findings from Research

Increasing physical activity is crucial in treating childhood obesity, as it not only helps with weight management but also improves metabolic health and psychological well-being.

The paper provides practical recommendations for healthcare providers to encourage obese children and their families to engage in daily activities, participate in sports, reduce sedentary behaviors, and involve their social circles in supporting healthier lifestyles.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity-key issues in treatment of childhood obesity. Nowicka, P., Flodmark, CE.[2015]

A systematic review of 85 studies confirmed that physical activity is effective in reducing overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, with the best results coming from programs that combine aerobic and anaerobic exercises.

For optimal results, it is recommended that children and adolescents engage in at least 180 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, and that family involvement in weight reduction programs significantly enhances effectiveness compared to standard nutrition education alone.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Physical activity programmes to reduce overweight and obesity in children and adolescents; a systematic review]. Aguilar Cordero, MJ., Ortegón Piñero, A., Mur Vilar, N., et al.[2022]

Exercise programs combined with dietary changes are effective in treating obesity in children and adolescents, as supported by a review of 13 controlled studies.

There is a need for more research on exercise interventions for obesity, particularly considering factors like adherence, diet, age, gender, and type of exercise to optimize outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise in treating obesity in children and adolescents. Epstein, LH., Coleman, KJ., Myers, MD.[2019]

A two-week weight-management camp followed by a 10-week community intervention significantly reduced BMI in overweight and obese Qatari children (n=300), demonstrating effective weight management strategies.

The combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and behavior change techniques in the community program helped maintain weight loss achieved during the camp, indicating its potential for long-term weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Testing a multicomponent lifestyle intervention for combatting childhood obesity. Vlaev, I., Taylor, MJ., Taylor, D., et al.[2021]

A community-based program for obese children, which included group counseling and nutrition education, effectively stabilized or reduced weight gain, with participants gaining only 0.28 kg/month compared to 0.62 kg/month in matched controls.

43% of the children in the program showed clinically significant differences in weight gain, and 8 participants even lost weight, highlighting the program's potential effectiveness in managing childhood obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

YMCA program for childhood obesity: a case series. McCormick, DP., Ramirez, M., Caldwell, S., et al.[2022]

A structured weight management program for obese children and adolescents led to significant reductions in body weight, BMI, and BMI percentiles after just 3 months, with continued improvements observed at 6 and 12 months for those who maintained participation.

Children who participated in the program showed improved fitness levels, while control group participants experienced weight gain and increased BMI, highlighting the program's effectiveness in promoting healthier outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A combined nutritional-behavioral-physical activity intervention for the treatment of childhood obesity--a 7-year summary. Nemet, D., Levi, L., Pantanowitz, M., et al.[2014]

This project aims to adapt and evaluate the effectiveness of Physical Activity on Prescription (PAP) for approximately 60 children aged 6 to 12 with obesity, focusing on their physical activity levels and health outcomes over a 12-month period.

The study will assess not only clinical outcomes like BMI and metabolic risk factors but also the feasibility and acceptability of PAP through various implementation metrics, providing insights into how to effectively integrate this intervention into pediatric healthcare.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation of physical activity on prescription for children with obesity in paediatric health care (IMPA): protocol for a feasibility and evaluation study using quantitative and qualitative methods. Bernhardsson, S., Boman, C., Lundqvist, S., et al.[2022]

A moderate intensity, progressive resistance training program for obese preadolescent children was implemented safely, with no reported injuries and full compliance over 10 weeks.

Significant reductions in weight, body mass index, and body fat were observed after 10 weeks, and these improvements were maintained at a 1-year follow-up, alongside increases in height and lean body mass.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Inclusion of resistance exercise in a multidisciplinary outpatient treatment program for preadolescent obese children. Sothern, MS., Loftin, JM., Udall, JN., et al.[2019]

An integrative review of 55 studies from 2012 to 2022 highlights that increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in obese children can lead to significant improvements in body composition and cardiometabolic indicators, such as BMI and blood pressure.

Physical activity is identified as a crucial intervention for managing obesity-related health risks in children, emphasizing its role in enhancing overall health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting Health in Pediatric Obesity: A Decade's Research of Physical Activity's Influence on Cardiometabolic Parameters. Gesek, M., Fornal, AD., Zarzycka, D.[2023]

Participation in an 8-day summer camp for children with obesity led to a significant increase in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) for male participants, while female participants did not show a similar increase, highlighting a gender difference in response to the camp activities.

The study suggests that summer camps can effectively improve physical activity levels in obese children, but special attention should be given to female participants to enhance their engagement and reduce sedentary behavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Objectively Measured Physical Activity Increases Only in Males During a Summer Camp for Obese Children. Izzicupo, P., Di Blasio, A., Di Credico, A., et al.[2021]

This study aims to evaluate a parental support program designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity in six-year-old children, involving 242 participants from diverse socio-economic backgrounds over a six-month period.

The intervention includes health information, motivational interviewing for parents, and classroom activities, with the goal of improving children's physical activity and dietary habits, potentially providing insights for effective obesity prevention strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A healthy school start - parental support to promote healthy dietary habits and physical activity in children: design and evaluation of a cluster-randomised intervention. Nyberg, G., Sundblom, E., Norman, A., et al.[2022]

A community-based physical activity intervention program in Nanjing, China, significantly increased physical activity levels by an average of 33.13 minutes per week among students, while control group activity levels decreased.

The intervention group showed a smaller increase in body mass index (BMI) and a lower likelihood of obesity at the study's end, indicating the program's effectiveness in preventing obesity among children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Childhood obesity prevention through a community-based cluster randomized controlled physical activity intervention among schools in china: the health legacy project of the 2nd world summer youth olympic Games (YOG-Obesity study). Wang, Z., Xu, F., Ye, Q., et al.[2019]

A four-phase physical activity intervention for 73 overweight children led to significant weight loss and reduced body fat, which were maintained after one year.

The program combined progressive exercise with motivational strategies, resulting in improved physical activity patterns and the preservation of lean body mass.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motivating the obese child to move: the role of structured exercise in pediatric weight management. Sothern, MS., Hunter, S., Suskind, RM., et al.[2019]

References

1. Norway pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity-key issues in treatment of childhood obesity. [2015]

2. Spain pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Physical activity programmes to reduce overweight and obesity in children and adolescents; a systematic review]. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise in treating obesity in children and adolescents. [2019]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Testing a multicomponent lifestyle intervention for combatting childhood obesity. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

YMCA program for childhood obesity: a case series. [2022]

6. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A combined nutritional-behavioral-physical activity intervention for the treatment of childhood obesity--a 7-year summary. [2014]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation of physical activity on prescription for children with obesity in paediatric health care (IMPA): protocol for a feasibility and evaluation study using quantitative and qualitative methods. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Inclusion of resistance exercise in a multidisciplinary outpatient treatment program for preadolescent obese children. [2019]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting Health in Pediatric Obesity: A Decade's Research of Physical Activity's Influence on Cardiometabolic Parameters. [2023]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Objectively Measured Physical Activity Increases Only in Males During a Summer Camp for Obese Children. [2021]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A healthy school start - parental support to promote healthy dietary habits and physical activity in children: design and evaluation of a cluster-randomised intervention. [2022]

12. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Childhood obesity prevention through a community-based cluster randomized controlled physical activity intervention among schools in china: the health legacy project of the 2nd world summer youth olympic Games (YOG-Obesity study). [2019]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motivating the obese child to move: the role of structured exercise in pediatric weight management. [2019]